Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-16

that even the servants do not know
precisely what has happened. Mr.. Fos-
ter was arrested in his study and made
no resistance, although he assumed
high tone Of injured innocence. DO
you know, Miss Armitage, where the
rest Of the poisoned candles are kept :?
rcTly I opened The door OF the
cupboard and pointed 10 the rows OF
oxes. lie aud DR.. Weston then care
fully locked and sealed up the door,
until the state Of the invalid should
permit a fuller investigation OF the
apartment. DR.. Archer then inform d
me that a nurse had been telegraph ~
for from the Nurses Home at the county
town, al that | need feel no appre-
tension lest Edith should suffer from
the wan. of skilled attendance.
Nurse Mary soon after arrived, and
proved invaluable. All her care and
skill, however, we're needed to counter
act the effects of the poison upon
Fdith's delicate frame. For days she
hung between life and death. Her
conyalesccnce was long and tedious;
but at length she recovered sufficiently
to leave Gorton Hall for the Isle OF
Wight, whore the pure sea breezas
soon brought back the color to hvr
checks.
Investigation proved that the can
dies similsr to those which had been
Iurned nightly in the sick-roOm for
over two months were highly delete
ricus. The wax was pure, but the
wicLs were impregnatcd by a strong
solution of arsenic. The remainder
were analysed, and from them much o.
the poisonous drug was extracted. Ihe
Close st research, however, failed to dis
cover from whom they had been
originally procured. Beyond The fact
that the boxes came IRON London
their origin remains a mystery to tais
day. The plans OF the conspiratlr
had been so cleyorly laid that it was
almost impossible to bring theirwrong-
doing home 10 them.
wish | could say that both Edita's
treacherous guardians received an cX-
cmphry punishment; but, unfortu
nately. punishment in this world does
not always overtake the criminal. Mr.
Foster maintained the assertion of his
innocence TO the last: nor WIS there one
ittlc Of evidence, direct or indirect.
aeainst him. ably defended by most
skilful advocate he escaped absolutely
scot-frce. Mrs. Morrell maintained the
ssne line Of conduct, and was merely
sentenced to imprisonment for two
yoars. Dr. Archer and ! were aghast
and bitterly disappointed at such an
Obvious failure of Justice. But We had
enc consolation-that Ediths fortune
VAS secured to her. and that the
scEeming adyenturers who had rlsl't
Ell to Grasp her gold were not benefited,
after an tl.cir trouble, by one faIthing.
The Thorudyke family interlered,
and her Affairs were placed in tr1stwor-
thy hands until her coming of age.
Her twcnty-tirst birthday was also the
5uy Of her marriage to DIR. Archer, and
they are indeed a united pair | will
not write down here all the expressions
of eratitude received from Edith, her
over. and her relatives, for my "cou-
roec and "sagacity' in defeating her
,topfathcr's murderous designs. l de-
cliHed Edith's offer Of a home with her,
FOR I leliyod that married people are
loIriest by themselves; but, though
.iil working for my living, spend all
NY holidays with her, and little voices
already call ne "8untie.'
Their home is perfect in all its p-
pontmcnts; Int one fact, which Us
never explained to casual visitors, some
lines strikes newcomers as strange
nothing will induce Or. Archer to have
wax candle in his house. They set 1t
down as a lad and singular fancy only
Edith, ne, and know the truth.